CSKA Sofia 1-2 Besiktas: Report

02 December 2010 08:50

Besiktas go through
Besiktas booked their place in the knockout stage of the Europa League with a 2-1 victory at CSKA Sofia.
Tomas Zapotocny and Filip Holosko put the Turks firmly in command with goals early in the second half to guarantee their side one second place behind Porto in Group L.
Substitute Cillian Sheridan pulled one back 11 minutes from time for CSKA, but it prove too little too late as their elimination was confirmed
The visitors were on the front foot from the off, Mehmet Aurelio firing a sighter over the bar and Fabian Ernst having his effort from the right channel tipped round the post by home goalkeeper Rais M'Bohli.
M'Bohli was tested again in the 24th minute when he parried Roberto Hilbert's shot from inside the area before CSKA threatened, Brazilian Michel Platini working keeper Cenk Gonen with a shot from the left side of the area.
Besiktas always looked the side on control, though, and they went ahead in the 57th minute following a foul by Todor Yanchev on Rodrigo Tabata.
Guti, the summer signing from Real Madrid, swung in the resulting free-kick from the right which Zapotocny headed home from six yards.
Ali Kucik almost made it two five minutes later but again M'Bohli was alert to turn his shot behind, while at the other end Hakan Arikan, on at half-time in place of Gonen, denied Michel Platini, who looked the hosts' only threat.
But the visitors did double their lead in the 64th minute through Hololsko, the Slovakia forward converting Kucik's pass with a low strike.
With a two-goal cushion it should have been a simple task for Besiktas to close out the match, but instead Sheridan dragged CSKA back into the match just five minutes after coming on.
The 6ft 5in Republic of Ireland striker, signed in the summer from Celtic, used his height to decisive effect to head Spas Delev's left-wing cross high into the net.
Sheridan went close to an equaliser in the 88th minute, but his shot was caught by Arikan.
Marcos Marquinhos had CSKA'S final sight at goal in stoppage time only to send his shot wide as Besiktas went through.